Tianlong continued in a low voice, “Even someone like me, who has been in deep slumber all this time, can guess why you brought these people onto the ‘train.'”
“Tianlong… How could you think that… I…”
“You’ve found some way to break our ‘shared fate,’ haven’t you?”
Qinglong fell silent for a moment, neither denying nor confirming.
“Our ‘Twin Flowers’ bond only established the most basic connection, which means our injuries aren’t shared, but our lives are still intertwined,” Tianlong said. “Yet, it’s precisely this basic connection that’s been giving you endless headaches… isn’t it?”
“I…”
“So you wanted to set up a scheme to eliminate me, but things gradually spiraled out of your control.” Tianlong sighed. “You realized that under Aries’ full-force assault, you couldn’t hold your ground, so you had no choice but to wake me up to clean up the mess you created… right?”
“Tianlong…” Qinglong didn’t know how to respond, his expression complex as he remained silent.
“When you were entangled, you couldn’t sever the connection between us. That means your method is only temporary—maybe even requires preparation in advance. You wanted to seize that fleeting moment to kill me and free yourself completely.” Tianlong sighed again. “Qinglong… am I right?”
After speaking, Tianlong pressed a hand to his chest, his expression turning strange.
“You… What’s wrong?” Qinglong asked uncertainly.
“Nothing… I just suddenly feel like I can’t breathe,” Tianlong said. “Qinglong, just because I don’t say things doesn’t mean I don’t know them.”
Qinglong knew there was no point in hiding anymore. He exhaled deeply and finally admitted, “Yes. I wanted to kill you. I’ve had enough.”
“That’s a little disappointing to hear,” Tianlong said. “But I understand you completely.”
“You’re the one who’s been sleeping all this time…” Qinglong’s voice grew slightly hoarse. “Yet I’m the one trapped. Every day, I worry that someone might enter that room and kill you… I worry even more that I’ll die one night without ever knowing why. You’re just asleep, but you’ve become my greatest weakness in this world.”
“Then why do you think I’ve been sleeping?” Tianlong asked.
The question struck a nerve, leaving Qinglong speechless.
“Qinglong, I understand you,” Tianlong said. “But you know full well that the only reason I sleep is because I exhaust all my ‘faith’ in just half a day, driving me to madness. With the ‘divine arts’ I possess, if I were to stay awake… the entire ‘Peach Blossom Spring’ would be turned upside down.”
“Yes… I know. Everything you do is to preserve the stability of ‘Peach Blossom Spring,'” Qinglong said through gritted teeth. “But is ‘stability’ really what we want? Don’t you ever want to gamble… and become a true ‘god’?”
“Of course I do…” Tianlong kept his hand pressed to his chest, taking a few deep breaths before his breathing steadied. “But if I don’t ‘dissolve’ those people… when new lives arrive, and countless versions of them meet, how can we ensure nothing worse happens?”
“It’s all Aries’ fault… Aries, he—”
Tianlong steadied his breath, his expression grave. “One Aries alone has already caused this much chaos. What if multiple Aries meet inside ‘Peach Blossom Spring’? If they strategize together and execute flawless plans, will the scales of fate still tip in our favor? Not even ‘Heaven’s Will’ could save us then.”
“Stop talking about ‘Heaven’s Will’…” Qinglong said. “Your so-called ‘Twelve Heavenly Decrees’ have been nearly destroyed by Aries. He schemed to turn ‘Heavenly Ram’ against us, he refused to become a ‘Celestial,’ his room has only one judge, and he alone has torn a hole in your ‘Twelve.'”
“It doesn’t matter,” Tianlong said. “Both you and I need to use him. That’s the only reason he’s still alive.”
Seeing Qinglong’s prolonged silence, Tianlong slowly stood and glanced at the corridor outside.
“Qinglong, if I really die… what identity will you live under?”
“Identity?” Qinglong looked up, confusion flickering across his face.
“The interesting part is that the one who survives isn’t you or me,” Tianlong said. “You carry half of me, and you’ve killed half of yourself. So which of us truly lives? Which of us dies?”
“No…” Qinglong paused for a few seconds before speaking. “No matter what we’re made of, right now we are two separate individuals. If you die, I’ll continue living as ‘Qinglong.'”
Tianlong remained with his back turned, his expression hidden.
“We’ve each taken a part of the other, and even our thoughts have begun to shift,” Tianlong murmured, gazing down the hallway. “Both you and I want to become true ‘gods,’ but our methods are completely different. Not only have you had enough—so have I.”
“What do you mean?”
“You’re tired of always having a weakness. I’m tired of only ruling these two illusory days. Neither of us is satisfied with the way things are,” Tianlong said. “Since there’s a way… why don’t we try it?”
“Wh… what?”
“That method of yours to undo the ‘Twin Flowers,'” Tianlong said. “Show it to me.”
Qinglong frowned slightly and slowly stood up. “Now…?”
“Yes. Why make it so complicated?” Tianlong said. “You went behind my back, set up this elaborate scheme, but the result would be far simpler if I just consented to it.”
Hearing Tianlong’s proposal, Qinglong hesitated—an unusual reaction for him.
“So you’re saying I should undo the ‘Twin Flowers’ now, and then…”
“Kill me,” Tianlong finished.
Qinglong fell silent for a few seconds before asking, “Tianlong… are you lucid right now?”
“Lucid enough,” Tianlong nodded. “This time, there aren’t many people to ‘dissolve,’ so I can still think and speak. But after I cast ‘Dreamwalk,’ it’s hard to say. So what’s your decision?”
Qinglong truly struggled to grasp Tianlong’s intent. Though they each carried half of the other, his half and Tianlong’s half thought differently.
“Why?” Qinglong asked. “Nothing you’ve said so far makes it seem like you want to die.”
“You said it yourself—if things continue like this, one day both of us will be in danger. Even if we fully enforce ‘Heaven’s Will,’ we might not escape unscathed,” Tianlong said. “So I’ve been wondering… if only you remain, could you manage this place better?”
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